Geography
What does the word Mesopotamia mean?
Land between two rivers
What is an extra amount of something beyond what is needed called?
Surplus
What ancient civilization developed in southern Mesopotamia?
Sumer
What is the belief in many gods called?
Polytheism
Who was the Akkadian ruler who conquered Sumerian city-states and created an empire?
Sargon
What was the writing system developed by the Sumerians called?
Cuneiform
On which continent was Ancient Mesopotamia located?
Asia
What two rivers surrounded Ancient Mesopotamia?
Tigris and Euphrates
What is a person who writes and records official information called?
Scribe
What is the term for an area with cities and large populations?
Urban
What was the large, pyramid-shaped temple found in Sumerian city-states called?
Ziggurat
What is the title given to a male ruler of a monarchy?
King
What material did Sumerians commonly write on?
Clay tablets
What modern-day country contains much of Ancient Mesopotamia?
Iraq
What is the name of the curved region of fertile land where Mesopotamia developed?
Fertile Crescent
What is a person skilled at making things by hand called?
Artisan
What is the term for an area located in the countryside, often focused on farming?
Rural
Who performed religious ceremonies and communicated with the gods in Sumerian society?
Priests
Which Babylonian king is famous for creating a written collection of laws?
Hammurabi
What invention made it easier to transport goods over land?
Wheel
What is a substance used to make other products called?
Raw material
What is the fine, fertile soil deposited by rivers called?
Silt
What is a government ruled by one person, such as a king, called?
Monarchy
What was the main occupation of most people in Ancient Sumer?
Farming
What is a formal series of actions, often part of a religious ceremony, called?
Ritual
What is the name of Hammurabi's famous collection of laws?
Code of Hammurabi
What are simple drawings used to represent objects or ideas called?
Pictographs
Which Civilization that we've covered was more interested in trading than military might?
The Phoenicians
What is the process of supplying water to crops using human-made systems?
Irrigation
What is a partnership between individuals, cities, or nations called?
Alliance
Name one example, not including Sumer, of a City-State in ancient Mesopotamia.
Ur, Uruk, Babylon, Kish...
If you were planning a city in Ancient Sumer, where would the Ziggurat be located?
The middle of the city.
Which Babylonian king is associated with the rebuilding of Babylon and its impressive structures?
Nebuchadnezzar II
What farming invention helped farmers prepare soil for planting?
Plow
Provide an example of relative location.
Mr. Presley will judge.
Why did early civilizations settle near rivers? 3 answers must get two out of three.
Rivers provided water, fertile soil, and transportation.
What is a self-governing city and its surrounding lands called?
City-state
What allowed Sumerians to develop specialized jobs?
Food surpluses
Why did Mesopotamians build ziggurats?
To honor and worship their gods. Could be other answers.
What is the difference between a city-state and an empire?
A city-state governs one city and its surrounding territory; an empire controls multiple lands and peoples.
What tool did Sumerians use to press wedge-shaped marks into clay tablets?
Stylus
How did a food surplus change daily life in Mesopotamia?
It allowed people to pursue specialized jobs instead of everyone farming.
What was one major challenge Mesopotamian farmers faced because of the rivers?
Unpredictable flooding
What is a group of different lands and peoples controlled by one ruler called?
Empire
What are the three social classes of the Ancient Mesopotamian's society covered in the DBQ?
land owners, free people who do not own land, and slaves.
What did many Mesopotamians believe their gods controlled?
Forces of nature and events affecting human life
Why was Hammurabi's Code an important achievement?
It established written laws and identified punishments for different offenses.
What number did Mesopotamians use as the foundation of their mathematical system? (Hint: in terms of time)
60
Why was record keeping important to Mesopotamian merchants?
It helped them track goods, payments, and business transactions.
How did irrigation systems help Mesopotamian civilization grow?
They allowed farmers to grow more food and support larger populations.
What is a person who performs a job other than farming, such as metalworking or pottery, called?
Specialized worker
Why did Sumerian city-states frequently fight one another?
Competition for land, water, and resources
Why were priests considered powerful members of Mesopotamian society?
They led religious activities and often controlled important resources.
What was one way Sargon maintained control over his empire?
Through military power and appointed officials
What is the spread of ideas, beliefs, and technology from one culture to another called?
Cultural diffusion
What might happen to a Mesopotamian city if its irrigation system stopped working?
Crops could fail, causing food shortages and population decline.
One person from the group must do 10 full pushups.
Mr. Presley will judge
What is a category of people based on wealth or status in society called?
Social class
How did specialized workers contribute to the growth of Sumerian civilization? (At least one thing)
They produced goods, developed skills, improved technology, and supported trade.
How did religion influence the government of Sumerian city-states?
Leaders often claimed authority from the gods, and religion influenced laws and government decisions.
Why did punishments under Hammurabi's Code sometimes differ depending on social class?
Babylonian society had a social hierarchy, and legal penalties often reflected a person's status.
How did the development of writing improve Mesopotamian civilization?
It allowed people to record laws, trade, important events, and other information.
How did trade encourage cultural diffusion in Mesopotamia?
Merchants exchanged goods as well as ideas, inventions, and cultural practices.
Explain how the geography of Mesopotamia contributed to the development of civilization.
Rivers provided water and fertile soil, allowing agriculture, food surpluses, permanent settlements, and cities to develop.
What is the principle that everyone, including leaders, must follow the law called?
Rule of law
Identify five characteristics of civilization that developed in Sumer. (At least four out of five.)
Cities, complex institutions, specialized workers, record keeping, and improved technology
Who is the Assistant Principal in charge of 6th grade?
Mr. Granese
Compare Sargon's and Hammurabi's contributions to Mesopotamian history.
Sargon created a large empire through conquest; Hammurabi expanded Babylonian power and established a famous written law code.
Explain how the invention of the wheel, plow, and irrigation systems contributed to the growth of Mesopotamian civilization.
The wheel improved transportation, the plow increased farming efficiency, and irrigation increased food production.
Explain how agriculture, specialized workers, government, and writing were connected in the development of Mesopotamian civilization.
Agriculture created food surpluses, allowing specialized jobs and larger cities. Government helped organize society, while writing allowed people to record laws, trade, and information.